What can Dodgers expect out of Roki Sasaki?
The Dodgers landed one of the most prized pitchers this offseason in Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. The 23-year-old dominated Nippon Professional Baseball, but questions surround his transition to the majors. Can he handle the rigors of MLB pitching? Will shoulder soreness affect him in 2025? Can he regain velocity on his fastball? The Dodgers plan to use a six-man rotation to monitor workloads throughout the season.
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Can Dodgers pitchers stay healthy?
Despite winning the World Series, the Dodgers had only three healthy starters in the postseason. In 2024, they saw extended absences from Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Bobby Miller, Tony Gonsolin, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, and Michael Grove. The Dodgers have struggled to keep pitchers healthy in recent years. If they want to repeat, they need their staff and bullpen healthy heading into October.
Related: Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher Opening Day Status Uncertain After Latest Injury Update
Who will be the Dodgers workhorse?
What will Shohei Ohtani do for an encore?
Shohei Ohtani had a historic 2024, becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He unanimously won his third MVP award — his first in the National League — without throwing a pitch. While Ohtani returns to the mound this season, he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder after the World Series. The impact on his hitting and pitching remains uncertain.
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Can the Dodgers live up to the hype?
